Electrically operated automatic crossing gate



Nov. 15, 1932. o. L. VINCENT ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1951 N LMW Nov. 15, 19 32. v vmc 1,888,058

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Filed Sept. 50, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 15, 1932. '0. 1.. vmcEm 1,888,058

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Filed Sept. 30, 1931 '5 sheets-sheet a Nov. 15, 1932. o. L. VINCENT ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Filed Sept. 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 15,1932. 8 N NT 1,888,058

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Filed Sept so, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORVILLE L. VINCENT, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs] v ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Application filed September 30, 1931. Serial No. 565,975.

- The present invention relates generally to electrically operated gates. More particularly the invention'relates to that type of'gate which is designedfor use in connection with a railway crossing, is controlled automatically and comprises (1) a hollow standard; (2) a housing which is mounted rotatably on. the

u'pper'end of the standard and has a hori zontal shaft extendingtherethrough; (3) a gate arm which is carried by the shaft so as to swing vertically into and out of its operative'position, extends normally parallel to the railway crossing and, due to the mounting of thehead on the standard, is free to swing horizontally in the event that it is struck by a vehicle; and (4) an automatically controlled, reversible electric motor which is connected by way of gearing to the horizontal shaft andoperates to lower the gate when driven in one direction and to raise the gate when driven in the opposite direction.

One object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated gate of this type which consists of fewer parts and is simpler in construction than previously designed gates of the same general type, by virtueof the fact that the electric motor and the gearing for driving the shaft from the motor for gate arm lowering and raising purposes are 0 located in and rotatable with the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide railway crossing gate of the type under consideration in which the housing is sup-v ported rotatably on the upper end of the hol- 3 low standard by means of rollers which are mounted on the bottom of the housing and travel on undulatory, circular tracks of such character and design that thehousing tends automatically to assume a position 4 wherein the gate arm is parallel to the rail way crossing. 1

Another object of the invention is to prorate-d crossing gate of the aforementioned r in which the gearing between the resible electric motor and the horizontal shaftin the housing is designed so that the gate arm is raised at agreater rate of speed than it is lowered.

A further object of the invention is to pron automatically controlled, electrically bodying' the invention;

.vide a railway crossing gate of the'electrically-operated, automatically controlled type in which the' gate arm is connected to the horizontal shaft in the housing'so that it is lowered and raised through'the medium of pin andslot connectionswhich permitthe arm to bearrested during its down or up' strokewithout stopping the electric motor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide arailway crossing gate of the type: under consideration which embodies a vertically swinging sidewalk gate arm on the standard and includes an operating connec tion for this gate arm which is connected to and operated by the horizontal shaft in the housing and extends through thebjottom of r the housing'into the upper end of the stand-- ard.

In addition, itis contemplated as one of the I objects of the invention to provide an elecfeatures which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly 'defined by-claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specificationor disclo sure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspondingparts throughout the several views; I 7

Fig.1 is a side elevation of a gate em- Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the manner in which the gate armis free to'swing horil zontally when it is struck by a vehicle. or

otherwise displaced; r g Fig. 3- is avertical section ex'hlbitingln detail the arrangement and locat1on ofthe motor and gearing within the housing, and

the, construction of the operating connection for the sidewalk gate arm;

4: is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, illustrating the manner in "which the horizontal shaft is mounted in Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the liner 5 of Fig. 3, disclosing in detail the roller lit.

'n'ular flangeQO. The lower endof the fard fits within this flange and is bolted or and undulatory' track arrangement whereby the housing is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the standard and tends normally to assume a position wherein the gate arm is parallel to the railway crossing with which the. gate. is used;

F igziti' is atop view of the housing, the cover beingJomit-ted for-purposes of illustration; 1 Fig...t is an enlarged section of the speed reducing unit which forms a part of the gearingbetween the electric motor and. the

horizontal shaft the housing;

Fig. 81s a detail View ;of' the gears which operate during drive of the electric motor in;;one direction to. rotate the shaft so as to lowerthe gate army Fig. '9 visa detailed View of the gears which serve during reverse drive of the motor,'to

rotate .theahorizontal shaft in the housing so that it raises the gate arm at a greater rate of speed than it is-lowered Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sections of the undulatory; circular .trackswhich, in conj-unctionawith therollers on the bottom of the" housing, support the housing rotatably; Figs.:12',13, 14, 115' and 16 are detail views of the-pin. and slot connections for connecting the gate arm to the horizontal shaft so thatrthe latter'may.- be arrested during its downer upstroke without stopping the electric motor;

The gate which forms the'subject matter of the present invention is adapted for use in connection with a: railway crossing and comprises a hollow standard-.15, a housing 16 and a gate arm 17. Thehousing 16 is mounted 'atthe upper end of thegstandard l5: and su rts a ho izontal shaft18... The a ppo i ner faces of the central portions of the side gate arm 1-7 is carried by the" shaft 18 so as to swing vertically extends normally parallel to thecrossing and is adapted, as here-' inafter described, tobelowered from a substantially; vertical, inoperative position to a horizontal: operative position: wherein it extends arallel to the crossinr and blocks trafiic when a train passes over the railway tracks. The standard 15 is cylindrical. It

is preferablyformed ofsteel tubing and is supported upon-a cast metal-base 19'. The latter i-s-located ona foundation concrete or like material at onersideofithe crossing and embodies an upwardly extending, an-

stand pair of cast metal plates 32.

-The plates .36 and pin Vwardlv from the plates 32 and, as hereinafter shaft. 18 isrotated in I one di:

otherwise secured thereto. so that the standard is connected fixedly to the base. The upper end of the standard 15 is provided with a cast metal cap 21. The latter is circular in conformation and is provided with an annular flange22. The latter is formed integrally with and depends from the marginal portion of the cap and surrounds the upper end of the standard 15, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and d of the drawings. The central portion of the cap is enlarged or extended upwardly and downwardly and has formed therein a vertically extending, circular opening 23v in which a hollow cylindrical member 24 is mounted rotatably and slidable vertically.

The housing 16 is formed of cast metal and is substantially rectangular. It consists of a cover 25., a pair of side walls 26, a pair'of end walls 27 and a bottom wall 28. The bottom 28 is fiatgand forms 'Witi l the side and end walls 6 and 27 a compartment 29. The cover servesto close. the'top of the-compartment 29 and embodies a depending,

marginalflange.25 whereby it is detachably i connected to the upper marginal. portions of the side andend walls-2S- and 27. The cylind-rical member Qdfits 1n anddepenos from a circular opening 30 in the bottom 28 of thehousing and establishes communication;

housing sides 26. The ends of the shaft .18 @100 project beyond the housing sides 26 and have keyed or otherwise fixedly secured thereto The latter are provided with hub portions '33 and are arranged so that the outer faces. thereof are;- fiush with the extreme outer ends of the shaft 18. r r

V The gate arm 17 consists-of a pair of side niembersi l and is carried bythe shaft18 through the medium of a pair of cast. metal p ates 35.

The side members 34 are arrangedin laterally spaced relation and lap the side walls 26 of the housing 1""; The plates 35 are secured by bolts 35 to the in.-

members and the plates 32 fit against the outer faces of on the ends of'the shaft 18. are each provided with a pin 37. These pins project outdescribed. cooperate with the plates 35 so as to connect the gate arm 17 to the sh 18 for lowering or raising ,inovement. lVhen the .ction, the gate islowered into a horizontal position wherein 1 it extends parallel to the railway crossing. When the shaft 18 is driven in the opposite direction, the gate arm israised into itsfkperati re position wherein it extends substantially vertically as pr-evious-y pointed out.

Cross braces 38 extend between and connect -the end portions of theside members of the gate which are adaptedto bridge or extend across the road over the railway crossing when the gate arm is in'its operative position. The other end portions of the side members 34 are provided with weights .39.

The latter operate as counterweights and under face of the bottom 28 of the housing.

They are positioned adjacent the end walls 27 and travelon an undulatory, circular track 43. The latter isformedon the top face of the cap 21 and has a pair ofdiametrioally opposite crests 43" and a pair of diametrically oppositedepressions 43 The depressions 43 are positioned at right angles to the crests 43, and are arranged so that when the rollers aredisposed therein, thehousing 27 is in its normal position, that is, in a position wherein the gate arm 17 is parallel to the railway crossing. When the gate arm 4 is struck by a vehicle and swung horizontally, the housing 16 is rotated and causes the rollers 40 to travel up the crests 43 of the track 43. Upon release of the gate arm 17, the rollers travel down the crests and into the depression's'in response to the Weight of the housing and thus automatically return the gate arm to its normal position with respect to the railway crossing. The cylindricalhollow member 24 operates as a guide whereby the housing is held againstlateral displacement when it is moved vertically as a result of the rollers travelling up the crests. The rollers 41 are mounted rotatably onbrackets 44 on the under side of the housing bottom 28 and are positioned adjacent the side walls of the housing. They are located at right angles to the rollers 40 and travel on an undulatory circulartrack 45. The latter is formedon the top face of the cap 21 at the upper end of the standard 15. is positioned within and concentrically with respect to the undulatory [cir cular track 43 and has a pair of diametrically opposite crests 45 and apair of diametrically opposite depressions 45 The depressions 45 are located at right angles to the depressions 43 of the track 43 and receivetherein the-rollers 41 when the housing is in itsnormal position; The crests 45 extend at right angles to the depressions and are positionedadjacent the depressions 43 of the track 43. By arranging the crests 45 in this manner and positioning the rollers41 at right angles to the rollers 40, the rollers 41 travel up the crests 45 at the same time the rollers 40 travel up the crests 43*- as the result of the gate arm 17 beingswung horizontally. The rollers 41 together with the rollers 40 exemplify 'simple'an'd improved means for supporting the housing 16 rotatably at the upper end of the standard 15 and for automatically returning. the gate arm to itsoperative or normal position after it is shifted or swung horizontally as a result of being struck by a vehicle. By employing the rollers 40 and 41 and the circular undulatory tracks 43 and 45,

nospringsor like instrumentalities are needed toreta'in the housing'and' gate arm in their normal position. To prevent thev gate arm and housing from being displaced from their ed against damage from the elements by a means of a circular sheet metal band 47. This band issecured to and depends from a circular boss 28*,on the under face ofthe hous-' ing bottom 28 and. laps the marginal portion of the cap 21 so as to enclose the SpaCG-flbOVQf the circularundulatory tracks 43 and 4.5.

The horizontal shaft 18 is rotated so as to lower and raisethe gate arm 17 by means of mechanism which is housed wholly within the housing 16. Thismechanism includes a reversible electricmotor 48 and a speed reducing unit 49. The electric motor 48 is posi tioned in one end of the chamber 291 and is secured to the housing bottom 28 bybolts 50. It is supplied with current through conductors (not shown) and is-controlled by track switches in such a manner that it is driven in one direction tolower the gate arm when a train approaches the crossing and is: driven in areverse direction to raise. the 'gatearm after passage of the train over the crossing. The unit 49 is located in the other end of the compartment 29'and consists of'a casing 51 andspeed reducing gearing. The casing is removably secured to the bottom 28 of the housing 16 many suitable manner and contains oil or any other suitablelubricant for the speed reducing gearing. Thelatter consists of a sprocket 52 which is fixed to one end of a horizontally extending shaft53 and .isdriven from a sprocket 54 on the armature shaftiof the reversible electric motor48 by an endless chain 55 a worm wheel 56 which is fixed to one end of a horizontally extending shaft 57 and meshes with and isdriven byv V a worm 58 on the central p ortion'of the shaft 53; and 'a worm wheel 59 which is mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 60 and meshes with and is driven by a worm 60 on the'otlier end of the shaft 57 The worm 5 wheel 56, the'worm 58, the worm wheel 59 and the worm 60' are located in the casing 51.

The shaft 60 is located above "the: shaft. 57 and is arranged so: that the ends thereoffprojet-t through the casing 51. The horizontally extendingshaftlS is rotated so as to lower the gate arm 17 by means'of a gear 61. The

latter is fixed to. one end of'the shaft 60 of the speed reducing unit 49 and meshes: with a larger gear62" on the shaft 18. The gear 62 embodies ahub 63 and is connected to drive the shaft 18 in the proper direction foreffecting lowering of the gate arm by'means of a one-way clutch 64'. The latter (see Fig. 8) consists of a collar 65-on the shaft 18 within the hub 63 and a spring-pressed roller 66 which is located in a notch 67 in the collar and bears against the inner peripheryof the hub. When the electric motor 48 is drivenso as to lower the gate arm 17, the gear-62 which is driven by the gear 61 operates to'rotate the shaft18 through the medium of the one way clutch 64. When the motor .is driven in the reverse direction, the gear 62 rides loosely around the shaft 18. The shaft 18is rotated so asto raise the gate arm' 17 by means of a gear 68. This gear meshes with a gear 69 of equal size on the shaft 60 and is connected to drive the shaft 18 through acne-way clutch 70. The latter (see Fig. 9') consists of a col lar 71 on the shaft 18 and a spring-pressed roller 7 2 which is located in a notch 73 in the collar 71 and engages the inner periphery of a hub 73. This hubis formed integrally with the gear 68 and encircles the collar 71. i The one=way clutch70 operates oppositely from the one-way clutch 64: and is arranged so as to effect a driving connection between the shaft 18 and thegear-68 when the gate arm --is tobe raised, and to" permit the gear 68 toride loosely on the shaft 18 when the latter is driven by the gear 62-to effect lower.-

' ing of the gate arm; By virtue of the fact thatthe gear 62'is largerthan the gear 61 and the gears 68 and 69 are of the same size, the

gate arm 17 is raised more rapidly or at a greater rate of speed than 1t is lowered.

When the motor 18 is driven so as tolowerthe gate arm, the gear 62 is connected to the shaft 18 and the gear 68 is loose. When the motor is reversed so as to raise the gate arm,

the gear 68 isconnected to drive the shaft 18 and the gear 62'is loose. By disposing the electric motor and the gearing for raising and lowering the gate in the compartment 29,

the construction of the gate proper is simplified. In the event that it is necessary to repair the electric motor, the speed reducing unit or the gearing, it is only necessary torcmove the cover from the housing 16 sons to open the compartment 29. e

In order to permit the gate arm 17 to be arrested on its down or up stroke without stopping the electric motor 18, the cast metal plates have formed therein slots 7 1 for the pins 36and slots 7 5 for the pin 37.. The pins slots for their centers.

'36'are positioned on one side'of the horizontally extending shaft 18. The pins 37 arelocatedon the oppositeside of the shaft 18-and are spaced the same distance from the shaft asthe pins 36. The slots74 for the pins "36 are arcuate and'have the inner ends of the The slots 75 for the pins 37 are also arcuate and have the inner ends of the slots 74 for their centers. The

pins 36 are normally disposed in' the inner ends ofthe slots 7 1 and the pins 37 are-Inormally disposed in the inner ends of'the'slots 7 51 Whenthe' electricmotor48 is driven to lower the gate'arm, the plates 32 arerotated bythe shaft 18 and cause the pins 37 tojamb against the inner en'dsof the slots 75 and to swing the gate arm downwardly. During loweringor downward movement ofthe gate arm by the pins 37,the pins 36remain in-ethe inner ends'of the slots 7 1 due to the factthat the gate arm is balanced and swings downwardly on the axis of the shaft 18. Whenthe gate arm' is arrested during downward shift thereof, thepins 36 are shifted during rotation' of the plates32'towards the outer ends ofthe slots--74, as shown in Fig. 14. This shift of the pins 36fleavesthe gate arm in an over-balanced position and consequently when the gate armis released, it swlngs down 'wardlyuntil it is arrested by engagement of the pins 36 withrthe'inn'cr ends of the-slots 7 4. When the electric motor 18 is driven to raise the gate arm, the plates32 are rotated so that the pins 36-jambagainst the inner ends ofthe slots 74 and raise the gate arm in an under-balanced position and results'in the gate arm swinging upwardly automatically when it is released. The pi nequipped plates 32and the plates 35-with the slots 74 and 75 exemplify simple and efficient means for permitting the-gate arm to be arrestedon its-down or up stroke without stopping the electric motor.

In addition to'the arm 17, the gate comprises a sidewalk gate arm 76. The latter consists of a pair of laterally spaced, side members 77 and is supported by a horizontally extending shaft 78. The latter extends transversely through and is journalled in bearings in the central portion of the standard 15. The

side members 77 of the sidewalk gate arm lap opposite sides ofthe standard 15 and are fixedly secured in any suitablemanner to the ends of the shaft 78. Thesidewalk' gate arm 76 faces in the oppositedirection from'the gate arm 17 and is lowered and raised. conjointly with the gate arm 17 by means of a substantially vertically extending, two-piece link 79; The latter extends through the hollow'cylindrical member 24 and is connected at G the upper end thereof by a universal joint 80 to an arm 81 on the shaft 18. The lower end of the link 7 9 is connected by a universal joint 82 to an arm 83 on the shaft 7 8. The arm 81 is mounted on the centralpor'tion of 10 the shaft 18 and is fixed in any suitablemanner to the shaft so that it rotates therewith. The arm 83 is keyed or otherwise secured to the central portion of the shaft 78 and is arranged so that it raises the sidewalk gate arm 77 when the link 7 9 and the arm 88 are raised and lowers the sidewalk gate arm when said link and arm are lowered. The link 79 consists of a lower piece 79 and an upper piece 7 9 The lower piece is provided at the upper end thereof with a head-84 which is fixedly secured to the'lower end of a vertically extending cylinder 85. The lower end of the link piece 7 9 is provided with head 86 which is slidably mounted in the cylinder 85. A coil spring 87 extends between a plug 88 at the upper end of the cylinder andthe head 86 and operates as a yielding connection between the two pieces of the link which permits of extension of the link when the housing 16 is rotated as the result of the gate arm 17 being struck by a vehicle or otherwise swung horizontally.

The operation of the gate is as follows: hen a train approaches the railway crossing with which the gate is associated,the motor 48 is driven so as to effect a lowering of the gate arm 17 through the medium of the speed reducing unit 49, the gears 61 and 62, the shaft 18 and thepins 37 on the plates 40 32. After passage of the train over the crossing, the motor 48 is driven in the'opposite direction and operates to raise the gate arm 17 at a greater rate of speed than it is lowered through the medium of the speed reducing unit 49, the gears 68 and 69 and the pins 36. In the event that a vehicle strikes the gate arm 17 when it is in its lowered or operative position, the gate arm swings horizontally by virtue of the fact that the housing 16 is mounted rotatably on the upper end of the standard 15. Upon release of the gate, the housing is returned automatically to its normal position as a result of the action of the rollers 30, 31 and'the undulatory circular] tively low and reasonable cost. By virtue of the fact that the electric motor and the gearing for raising and lowering the gate arm are located in thehousing 116, no yieldable or lost motion connections other than the link 79 need be used on account of the housing 16 being rotatable relatively to the stand-- ard so as to permit the gate arm to be swung horizontally. The gate as a whole is compact and operates in an extremely eflicient manner.

Whereas the gate has been described for use in connection with a railway crossing, it is to be understood that the gate may; be used wherever it is desired to give a signal by the lowering and raising of a gate arm. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth,

since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isz' 1 i 1. In a crossing'gate of the character described, the combination of a tubular standard having at the upper end thereof a cap with a pair of undulatory, concentrically arranged, circular tracks, a housing positioned above the cap, av gate arm carried by the housing so as to swing vertically and adapted normally to extend substantially'parallel to the crossing, rollers on the under side of the 1 housing arranged to travel on the tracks and form therewith a mount whereby the housing is supported to rotate on a substantially vertical axis to permit the gate arm to swingv horizontally, and is automatically urged in response to the joint action of the rollers and the undulations of the tracks to return to its normal position wherein thegate arm is parallel to the crossing when it is rotated out of such position by horizontal swinging of the gate arm, and mechanism for swinging the gate arm vertically'into and out of a substantially horizontal, operative position compris ing an electric motor and speed reducing gearing disposed in and rotatable with the housing. I

2. In a crossing gate of the character described, the combination of a tubular standard having a cap at'the upper endthereof, a housing mounted above the cap'for rotation on a substantially vertical axis and having a horizontal shaft extending transversely therethrough, a gate arm carried by the shaft so that it swings vertically in response to rotation of the shaft, means between the housing and cap for normally maintaining said hous- 7 ing in a position wherein the gate arm is substantially parallel to the crossing, and mechanism for, rotating the shaft so as to swing the gate vertically into and out of a substantially horizontal operative position disposed v in and rotatable with the housing and comprising an electric motor, an encased speed *5 r I I v member to swing vertically, mechanism for reducing unit driven by the motor and a driving connection between the unit and the shaft.v

3. In a crossing gate ard having acap-member at the upper end thereof, a housing-member above the capme-mber, a gate arm carried by the housingmember to swing vertically, mechanism for swinging the gate arm into and out of substantially horizontal, operative position, and a mount whereby the housing-member is supported to rotate on aosubstantially vertical axis in order to permit the gate arm to swing horizontally, andis normally maintained in'a position wherein the gatearm is substantially parallel to the crossing, comprising an undulatory, circular track on'one of themembers and rollers on the other member arranged to travel on the track andto cooperate withthe undulations ofthelatter to urge the housing automatically intothe aforesaid position after it is displaced from such position by horizontal swinging of-the gate arm.

4. In a crossing ,gate of the cha-racter described,=the combinationof a standard having alcap at the upper end thereof, a housing above the cap, a gate-arm carried by the housing to swing vertically, mechanism for swinging the gate arm intoand out of a substantially horizontal, operative position, and

a mount whereby the housingis supported to rotate on a substantially vertical axis 1n order to permit the gate arm to swing horizontally, and is normally maintained in a position wherein the gate arm-is substantially parallel to the crossing, comprising an undulatory track on the upper face of the'cap androllersponthe under side of the, housing arranged to travel onthe track-and to cooperate with, the undulations of the latter to urge the housing automaticallyinto; the aforesaid position after ,it; is vdisplaced from; such position by horizontal swing-mg 50f the gate arm. '15,; :In a crossing gate oftrhe character describejd,'t-hecombination of astandard-memher, a housing-member on top of the standardmember, agate arm carried by the housingswinging the gate arm intoand out of a substantially horizontal operative position, and amount whereby the housing-memberis supported to rotate on a substantially vertical axis in order to permit the gate arm to swing V tially parallel to the crossing, comprising a pair of undulatory, concentrically arranged,

circular tracks carried by one of the members and rollers on the other member arranged to travel on the tracks and to cooperate with the undulations of the latter to urge thehousing automatically intothe aforesaid position of the character de- 1 scribed, the combination of a tubular standafter it, isv displaced fro'msaid position-by horizontal swingingof the gate arm.

6. In a cross ng gate of the character described, the combination of a standard,a'

housing on top of thestandard, a gate arm carried by the housing to swing vertically, mechanism for swinging the gate arm into and out of a substantially horizontal operative position, anda mount whereby the housing is supportedto rotate. on afsubstantially. vertical axis ,inorderto permit the gate arm to swing horizontally, and is nQlmally main tained in a position-wherein the gate arm is substantiallyparallel to-the crossing, comprising a pair of undulatory, concentrically arranged, circular; tracks carried by the upper end Of the standardand rollers on; the-under side of the housing arranged to travel'onthe tracks and to cooperate with the ,undulations of the latter to .urgethe housing automatial yinto the a or aid POSi IL af eritis displaced from 1 said I position a :by horizontal swinging of the gate arm.

' 7. In a vcrossin member, a gate arm supported by said member to swing vertically into and out of asubstantiallyhorizontal, operative position and mechanism for swinging the gate arincomprising a motor and gearingbetween the motor .andthe gate arm, said gearing being operative to swing the gate downwardly at a comparatively low speed when the motor is driven to lower the gateinto its operative position andto swing'the gate upwardly at a greater speed when the motor is driven to.

raise the gate armoutof said operative position. p v

.8. In a cross ng gate of the character -,de

scribed, the combination .01 a supportingber, having a horizontal shaft extending transversely there-through, a gate, armcarried by. the shaft so. that it swingsvertically in response .torotation of the shaft, and mechanismin the housing-member for swinging the gate arm into and out of a substantially horizontal, operativeposition,comprising a reversible electric motor andspeed reducing gearing betw llthe mo or vandthe shaft operative When the, motor; is driven one direction to rotate the. shaft at lowspeed to gate of the charaeterdescribed, the. com b'nation of a supporting swing the gate arm slowly into its operative position and when the motor 1s drlven in the reverse direction to rotate the shaft at high speed to swing the arm quickly out of its operative position.

10. In a crossing gate of the character described, the combination of a supporting member, a rotatable horizontally extending shaft supported by said member and provided at one end thereof with aplate-element, a gate arm carried by the shaft and arranged to swing vertically into and out of a substan scribed the combination of a supporting memher, a rotatable horizontally extending shaft supported by said member, a gate arm carried by and substantially balanced about the shaft and arranged to swing vertically into and out of a substantially horizontal, operative position in response to rotat1on of the shaft, motor-driven mechanism associated wlth the supporting member for rotating the shaft for gate arm swinglng purposes, and a drivingconnection between the shaft and the gate arm comprising a pin and slot connectionwhereby the arm may be arrested during upward swinging thereof without stopping rotation of the shaft and drive of the motor.

12. In a crossing gate of the character described, the combination of a supporting member, a rotatable horizontally extending shaft supported by said member, a gate arm carried by and substantially balanced about the shaft and arranged to swing vertically into and out of a substantially horizontal operative position in response to rotation of the shaft, motor-driven mechanism associated with the supporting member for rotating the shaft for gate arm swinging purposes, and a driving connection between the shaft and the gate arm consisting of a pair of coactive pin and slot connections whereby the arm is permitted to be arrested during downward or upward swinging thereof without stopping rotation of the shaft and drive of the motor.

13. In a crossing gate of the character described, the combination of a housing member, a rotatable horizontal shaft extending transversely through the housing and provided at the ends thereof with plate elements,

a vertically swinging gate arm consisting of wardly whenthe shaft is rotated in one direction and for swinging the gatearm up without stopping a pair of laterally spaced side members having plate elements positioned opposite the plate elements on the shaft, motor-driven mechanism in the'housing for rotating the shaft in either direction, and pin-and slot connections between the plate elementsfon' the shaft and the-plate elements on the, side members of the" gate arm forming a driving connection for swinging the gate arm down-' wardly when the'shaft is rotatedin the opposite direction and operative to permit the gate arm to be arrested on its down or up stroke rotation ofthe shaft and drive of the motor.

14. In a crossing gate of the character de-' scribed, the combination of a tubular stand ard, a housing mounted in the upper end of oscillatory gate arm conj ointly with the hous- 9 ing gate armoperated by the motor in the housing and comprising an extensible link extending throughthe bottom of the housing and into theupper end of the standard.

15. In a crossing gate of the characterdescribed, the combination of a tubular stand ard, a housing mounted on the upper end of the standard for rotation on a substantially 1- vertical axis and having a rotatable horizontal shaft extending transversely there- I through, a gate arm connected tothe shaft and adapted to swingvertically, mechanism for rotatingv the shaft so as to swing the gate I arm into and out of a substantially horizoning and comprising 'amotor and speed reducmg gearing between the motor and the shaft, an oscillatory gate arm carried on the means for swinging the oscillatory gate arm con]o1ntly with the gate arm on the shaft tal, operative position, disposed in the housno standard to swing vertically and positioned opposite the gate arm on the housing, and

operated by the motor and comprising a link connected to the shaft and extending through the bottom of the housing into the upperv end of thestandard. c

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 23rd day of June, 1931.

ORVILLE L. VINCENT." 

